ICU nurse salary in Tennessee
Open ICU nurse jobs in Tennessee post a median of $49.25 an hour, the middle half $46.50–$53.50 (about $102,400 a year full time), $5.75 below the national posted median. From 41 jobs at 4 employers that state their pay.
The jobs themselves: ICU nurse jobs in Tennessee · ICU nurse pay nationwide
What ICU nurses are paid in Tennessee
Each bar counts the open jobs posting an hourly rate in its step of pay (a range at its midpoint).
Posted on open jobs in Tennessee
Middle half of 18 employer rates (each employer's advertised range once), median $49.25. 31% of the 132 open ICU nurse jobs in Tennessee state an hourly rate.
ICU nurse in Tennessee: new openings every week
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ICU nurse pay by town in Tennessee
Towns where at least three open jobs state an hourly rate, the towns with the most such jobs first.
| Town | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs (employers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $49.50 | $35.97–$63.95 | 14 (3) |
| Chattanooga | $45.25 | $32.28–$58.63 | 9 (2) |
| Smyrna | $49.75 | $43.40–$59.50 | 4 (1) |
| Dickson | $49.75 | $43.40–$59.50 | 3 (1) |
| Hendersonville | $49.75 | $43.40–$59.50 | 3 (1) |
Median of employers' rates in the town, the lowest and highest rate posted, and the jobs and employers behind them. A town opens its own job page.
ICU nurse pay by employer in Tennessee
What each employer posts for ICU nurses here, the employers with the most jobs stating pay first.
| Employer | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs stating pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| HealthTrust Workforce Solutions | $49.75 | $43.40–$63.96 | 29 |
| CommonSpirit Health | $44 | $32.28–$58.63 | 6 |
| Ascension | $49.50 | $35.97–$63.95 | 5 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | $54 | $54 | 1 |
Median of each employer's jobs in Tennessee (a range at its midpoint), and its lowest and highest rate here. An employer's name opens its pay for ICU nurses nationwide when it has such a page.
Best-paid open ICU nurse jobs in Tennessee
The open jobs posting the highest hourly rates tonight, at most two from one employer.

RN: ICU - Contract - Days - Gallatin, TN
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions · Gallatin, TN· 2w ago
$61.5–$63.96/hr
RN: ICU - Contract - Nights - Athens, TN
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions · Athens, TN· 1w ago
$58.5–$60.84/hr
Registered Nurse, Critical Care Float Pool PRN, Night Shift - VUH
Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Nashville, TN· 3w ago
$54/hr
Ascension · Nashville, TN· today
$40.98–$63.95/hr
Registered Nurse Critical Care
Ascension · Nashville and Murfreesboro, TN· 1d ago
$40.98–$57.86/hr
CommonSpirit Health · Chattanooga, TN· 2w ago
$32.28–$58.63/hr
CommonSpirit Health · Chattanooga, TN· 1mo ago
$34.69–$55.36/hr
What BLS measures in Tennessee
What people employed in the occupation earned in the state, at every level of experience, from the BLS survey. A posting advertises what a new hire is offered.
| BLS occupation | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses (29-1141) | $30.76 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | $36.28 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | $39.18 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | $45.79 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | $50.44 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | 72,200 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) |
BLS median by metro area
- Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN$40.40/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, opens in a new tab)
- Memphis, TN-MS-AR$39.18/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Memphis, TN-MS-AR, opens in a new tab)
- Knoxville, TN$37.13/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Knoxville, TN, opens in a new tab)
- Chattanooga, TN-GA$38.35/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Chattanooga, TN-GA, opens in a new tab)
- Johnson City, TN$37.34/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Johnson City, TN, opens in a new tab)
- Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA$36.89/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA, opens in a new tab)
- Jackson, TN$36.35/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Jackson, TN, opens in a new tab)
- Clarksville, TN-KY$38.20/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Clarksville, TN-KY, opens in a new tab)
ICU nurse salary in Tennessee: common questions
How much does an ICU nurse make in Tennessee?
Open ICU nurse jobs in Tennessee that state an hourly rate post a median of $49.25, the middle half $46.50–$53.50 (41 jobs from 4 employers). Full time that is about $102,400 a year. BLS measured a median of $39.18/hr ($81,500 a year) for people employed in the occupation in Tennessee (May 2025).
Where in Tennessee do ICU nurses earn the most?
By the median rate open jobs post, in the towns with the most jobs stating pay: Nashville ($49.50), Chattanooga ($45.25), Smyrna ($49.75) and Dickson ($49.75). The town table lists 5.
Which employers in Tennessee pay ICU nurses the most?
Among employers stating a rate on at least three open jobs here: HealthTrust Workforce Solutions ($49.75), Ascension ($49.50) and CommonSpirit Health ($44).
How does Tennessee compare with the rest of the country?
The posted median in Tennessee ($49.25) is $5.75 below the national posted median of $55. In the BLS survey Tennessee ranks 41 of 52 by median wage.
Sources and method
- CareJobs.Now job board: the pay open jobs state, read nightly from each employer's own careers site, published October 24, 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), every state, published May 15, 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Registered Nurses, national, published May 15, 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Registered Nurses by metropolitan area, published May 15, 2026
Cite this page
CareJobs.Now. (2026). ICU nurse salary in Tennessee. Data as of October 24, 2026. https://carejobs.now/salaries/icu-nurse/tennessee